Roda Medhat

Kilim is a series of permanent works set to be installed in 2025. 

Overlea Boulevard, spanning from Don Mills Road to Thorncliffe Park Drive as well as the Charles H. Hiscott Bridge also known as Overlea Bridge is due for widening and and reconstruction. As part of this construction project, the City of Toronto had an open call for permanent public art proposals. Kilim was selected as the winner of the public art call amongst 60+ projects.

The bridge is located in the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park Neighbourhood. 

Kilim utilizes the form and symbols of a kilim rug to link the various demographic groups that live along Overlea boulevard. 

Kilims are a type of flat-woven rug that traditionally exists throughout North Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. These regions that the kilim has traditionally existed in also happens to be the where the majority of the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park residents come from. 

The final work will feature one permanent three-dimensional on one end of the bridge, a series of smaller permanent steel rugs draped over the railings of the bridge at each corner and custom stone paver patterns inlayed at the look-out points of the bridge. The project engages with the local community through planned engagement workshops with local schools. 

https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/public-art/public-art-monuments-collection/public-art-competitions/